Manga Review: Blue

[Floating_Sakura]

Title: Blue
Author: Kiriko Nananan
Published: Fanfare / Ponent Mon, 2004, USD23.99 BP10.99

Blue tells the history of the relationship between Kirishima and Endô, two high school girls. Kirishima has always been interested in Endô in spite of rumors about her suspension from school, and when they become friends, her every expectation is answered in the close relationship they develop. In time, she becomes more and more obsessive about Endô, wanting to be closer to her. Endô discovers her feelings, and they begin to explore a closer relationship than just friends; but their relationship does not remain simple and self-contained. The relationship becomes troubled by Endô's mysterious past, her other troubled relationships, and Kirishima's turbulent feelings. Through their relationship and in the course of the story, the girls explore the path to maturity.

The volume's presentation is beautiful. Although it is soft-cover, the cover is heavier than most paperbacks'; the binding is sewn; and the paper is heavy glossy paper (not quite to my taste, but I appreciate the intention of quality). The English adaptation is very nicely done; the style is conversational and suitable to the quiet atmosphere.

Blue is a beautiful story, but its appeal is not in its plot, characterization or drama, and an expectation of or desire for these will probably interfere with enjoying it as it is. The plot is multi-layered, but straightforward and fairly simple; the characterization is gentle and subtle, but not deep; the drama is continuous, but understated. These necessary trappings lend the story existence, but they do not carry it. It is atmosphere and visual styling that make Blue interesting and worthwhile, and the art is their vector.

Nananan represents humans with a relatively realistic style, with well-proportioned and well-posed figures with distinctly Asian faces and hairstyles. She has a fair diversity of panel sizes and positioning, but her creativity in page utilization is directed to how she fills the panels; angles of vision, which are often unconventional; and, chiefly, emptiness, which the stark black-and-white (with a very few grey tones) coloring emphasizes. More than facial expressions, body postures, and even dialogue or narration, it is the way she fills space and the silence of emptiness that Nananan develops the story - even in the noise of a school or a party, it feels like a quiet place of contemplation. This is an implementation of visual communication that is unique to the manga (or, more generally, comic) medium. Blue is very much a manga, and it doesn't read like anything else, not even film.

Because the visual art is so crucial a component of Blue, it is worthwhile to check out the sample pages on Ponent Mon's webpage to see if you like it. If the art doesn't speak to you, you will probably find the story boring indeed; but to someone open to its stylization, Blue is an artistically rendered work, and it is a pleasure to read.

Reviewed by anitra
Proofed by Illiana
Edited by Firedog